Community Wide Planning and Coordination

Unlike the seasonal flu, a pandemic flu virus poses a unique threat. Since humans have no previously developed immunity against pandemic flu, this new virus strain puts most people at high risk of infection. The result could be that a large percentage of the world's population becomes infected in a very short period of time.

Local health departments like the WCHD and its Emergency Preparedness Division are responsible for community wide planning for an outbreak of an influenza pandemic. The Will County Health Department has developed a pandemic influenza plan for the county and conducts training meetings and exercises with other agencies to build response capabilities. The department also conducts routine disease surveillance activities which can assist in forecasting and monitoring outbreaks of disease. If an outbreak of pandemic influenza should occur, the WCHD will work closely with other Will County emergency agencies, regional partners and the State of Illinois to manage and distribute antiviral supplies and vaccines, along with carrying out other public health, medical and emergency services.

Updated Information

H7N9 Flu Update: Disturbing news emanated from eastern China August 6 with the online publication of a study indicating the first instance of a probable person-to-person transmission of the novel H7N9 bird flu virus. The study concerned the 32 year-old healthy daughter of a 60 year old who had fallen ill after frequent visits to an animal market with live birds and died a few weeks after being admitted to the hospital.

No new H7N9 Cases; MERS-CoV Not Yet a Public Health Emergency

The Saudi Ministry of Health recommendations are designed to minimize health risks. There have been no new cases of H7N9 infection. In addition, no one knows whether MERS-CoV will develop into a worldwide emergency, but the Saudis recognize that an ounce of prevention may be worth several pounds of cure.

40th fatality linked to H7N9 since late March

Disturbing news emanated from eastern China June 26, when the Shanghai Provincial Branch of the National Health and Family Planning Commission announced the death of a 56-year-old man infected with the novel H7N9 Avian Flu virus.

No new cases reported since May 17; three additional H7N9 fatalities confirmed.

The Chinese suspended emergency responses in the areas affected by H7N9 May 28, but health officials from 15 countries spanning three continents remain keenly interested in measures capable of thwarting a potential pandemic.

Just one new case and two fatalities from May 17-31.

There is good news and less than encouraging information regarding the H7N9 avian flu virus. On the positive side, Chinese health authorities reported just one new case of human infection and two fatalities from May 17-31.

Authorities from across the globe are closely monitoring the situation.

So far, there is no evidence of sustained human-to-human virus transmission, but health authorities from across the globe are closely monitoring the situation. On April 28, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said his government would continue to cooperate with international health organizations, release information openly, and work to promote public awareness of the virus